Not in time for Wilton’s annual spring restaurant week, Zio Italian Kitchen Pizzeria & Bar is preparing to open at 1 Danbury Road in space that was previously a John’s Best Pizza restaurant and lounge that closed in February. The new restaurant takes its name for the Italian word for “uncle” in reference to Frank Sandolo, who has ran the John’s Best restaurant for 47 years, with niece and nephew Joann and Robert now taking the lead on Zio Italian Kitchen.

The John’s Best name dates back to 1962, with the Sandolo family originally the island of Ponza off Naples, Italy. John’s Best restaurants remain today under various owners on Westport Avenue and Connecticut Avenue in Norwalk, the latter under a prolonged renovation; as well as on Ethan Allen Highway in Ridgefield and Federal Road in Brookfield.